ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
New National Rubber Policy
The Department of Commerce brought out the National Rubber Policy in March 2019. The National Rubber Policy includes several provisions to support the Natural Rubber  production sector and the entire rubber industry value chain. The Policy covers new planting and replanting of rubber, support for growers, processing and marketing of natural rubber, labour shortage, grower forums, external trade, Centre-State integrated strategies, research, training, rubber product manufacturing and export, climate change concerns and carbon market.
National Rubber Policy is based on the short term and long term strategies identified by the Task Force constituted on the rubber sector for mitigating problems faced by rubber growers in the country. The Task Force held extensive consultations with various stakeholders of rubber sector. Prior to the notification of the National Rubber Policy, stakeholders’ views were obtained. The policy is expected to benefit natural rubber growers and promote the natural rubber production sector.
Developmental and research activities for supporting NR sector for the welfare of growers are carried out through Rubber Board by implementing the scheme Sustainable and Inclusive Development of Natural Rubber Sector in the Medium Term Framework  . The developmental activities include financial and technical assistance for planting, supply of quality planting materials, support for grower forums, training and skill development programme.
This information was given by the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Defence
BRO conducts final blast concluding all excavation on Sela Tunnel Project
The final blast for the 980-metre long Sela Tunnel  was conducted by Director General Border Roads  Lt Gen Rajeev Chaudhry through an e-ceremony from New Delhi on January 22, 2022. This marks the culmination of the excavation works on the complete Sela Tunnel Project. This feat has been achieved by Border Roads Organisation  amidst inclement weather and heavy snowfall.
The Sela Tunnel Project is located in the West Kameng District of Arunachal Pradesh. Once completed, it will be a lifeline as it will provide all weather connectivity to Tawang. The project comprises of Tunnel 1, which is a 980 m long single tube tunnel and Tunnel 2, which is a 1555 m long twin tube tunnel. Tunnel 2 has one bi-lane tube for traffic and one escape tube for emergencies. It will also be one of the longest tunnels to have been constructed above altitude of 13,000 feet. The project also includes construction of an approach road of seven kilometres to Tunnel 1, which takes off from BCT Road and a link road of 1.3 kilometres, which connects Tunnel 1 to Tunnel 2.
The foundation stone of the Sela Tunnel Project was laid by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2019. On January 15, 2021, after the first blast was conducted by the DGBR, excavation work on Tunnel 1 commenced. Thereafter, on October 14 2021, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh carried out the breakthrough blast of the 1,555 meter Tunnel 2, through an e-ceremony from India Gate, marking the end of excavation on Tunnel 2.
Ministry of Home Affairs
MHA issues order to make domiciles of Jammu and Kashmir eligible for all Government posts in the Union Territory
Union Ministry for Home Affairs  had issued anorder on 31.03.2020 for adaptation and modification of State Laws specific to the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir, to further facilitate the application of Central Laws to the newly formed Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
MHA has furtherissued an order to make domiciles of Jammu and Kashmir eligible for all Government posts in the Union Territory.
Click here to see the 31.03.2020 Gazette Notification 
Click here to see the 03.04.2020 Gazette Notification
Prime Minister's Office
Ganga Vilas is a unique opportunity to connect with our cultural roots: PM
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has said that Ganga Vilas, the world's longest river cruise is a unique opportunity to connect with our cultural roots and discover beautiful aspects of India’s diversity.
Responding to a tweet by Union Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, the Prime Minister tweeted;
"This is a unique opportunity to connect with our cultural roots and discover beautiful aspects of India’s diversity."
Ministry of Labour & Employment
EPFO settles 1.37 Lakh EPF withdrawal claims to fight Covid-19 in less than 10 days
Employees Provident Fund Organisation , an statutory body under Union Ministry of Labour & Employment has processed about 1.37 lakh claims across the country disbursing an amount of Rs. 279.65 crore under a new provision especially formulated by amending the EPF Scheme to help subscribers fight Covid-19. The remittances of the moneys has already started taking place. The system as it stands today is processing all applications which are fully KYC compliant within less than 72 hours. Members, who have applied for claims in some other category, can also file claim to fight pandemic and depending upon the KYC compliance condition of each member, every effort is being made to settle claims at the earliest.
The provision for a special withdrawal from the EPF Scheme to fight Covid-19 pandemic is part of the PMGKY scheme announced by the government and an urgent notification on the matter was made to introduce a para 68 L  of the EPF Scheme on 28th March 2020. Under this provision non-refundable withdrawal to the extent of the basic wages and dearness allowances for three months or up to 75% of the amount standing to member's credit in the EPF account, whichever is less, is provided. The member can apply for lesser amount also. This, being an advance, does not attract income tax deductions.
Anticipating the huge surge in the demand, EPFO came out with acompletely new software which has been developed from scratch and a receipt module for on-line receipt of the claims was introduced within 24 hours and deployed on 29th March 2020. Further, the application was required to be in paperless form to curtail any physical movement in view of social distancing. It was decided to introduce a system of settling claims in auto mode directly by the system in respect of all such members whose KYC requirements was complete in all respects.
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a serious threat and considering dire need of money in these trying times, it has been decided to process advance to fight COVID-19 pandemic on top priority.
Claims for availing advance to fight pandemic are filed online, necessitating every EPF account to be KYC complaint as pre-cursor. EPFO has relaxed date of birth correction criteria to ease KYC compliance enabling submission of claim to fight pandemic online. EPFO would accept the date of birth recorded in the Aadhaar card of a subscriber as a valid proof for rectification of the date of birth in PF records. All cases with variation in date of birth up to three years are now being accepted by EPFO.
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
ACC Approvals
The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet  has approved the following proposals:
- Temporary upgradation of the vacant post of Additional Secretary in NSCS to Secretary level for a period of two years and designating the same as the post of Deputy National Security Advisor;
- Appointment of Shri Pankaj Saran, IFS  as Deputy NSA against the aforesaid post, for a period of two years, on deputation basis initially till the date of his superannuation ; and, on re-employment on contract basis, thereafter for the remainder of two year period or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Ministry of Civil Aviation
Strengthening of aviation Infrastructure in states
Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia writes to Chief Ministers of Tripura and Uttarakhand
Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister of Civil Aviation has written to Chief Ministers of Tripura and Uttarakhand, requesting their personal intervention in expediting the matters for strengthening of aviation infrastructure in the respective states. AAI has embarked upon development and expansion of airports in the country at a cost of Rs. 20,000 Crore in the next 4-5 years in order to meet the growing passenger demand in the country.
While writing to, Shri Biplab Kumar Deb, Chief Minister of Tripura, Shri Scindia, underscored following issues that are impacting the implementation of various projects pertaining to aviation sector in state:
- 48 acres of land is required at Agartala Airport for Runway extension and relocation of Doppler Very High Frequency Omni Range .
- Further, 50.5 acres of land at Kamalpur Airport and 75 acres of land at Kailashahar Airport are required for development of these airports for civilian aircraft operations .
Shri Scindia has drawn attention of Shri Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, on following issues that are impacting the implementation of various projects pertaining to aviation sector in state:
- 243 acres of land is required at Dehradun for Runway extension, establishment of New Terminal Building and other allied infrastructure.
- For development of heliports at Almora, Haldwani, Haridwar, Joshimath, Ramnagar, Mussoorie, Nainital and Dharchula, an amount of Rs. 8.44 crores each has been allocated. These are required to be upgraded by the State Government.
- An amount of Rs. 0.36 crore is outstanding on part of the State Government as VGF share for Regional Air Connectivity Fund Trust .
Ministry of Cooperation
Promotion of Cooperatives
As per the Statistical Profile of Indian Cooperative Movement-2018 published by National Cooperative Union of India , State/UT-wise cooperative societies in the country are placed at Annexure-I. Further, Ministry of Cooperation is developing a comprehensive National Cooperative Database in a phased manner. Mapping of about 2.64 lakh primary cooperative societies of three sectors i.e. Primary Agriculture Credit Societies , Dairy and Fisheries has been completed in February, 2023 under Phase-I. Under Phase-II, Mapping of National Cooperative Societies/Federations has been completed. Under Phase-III, the Database is being extended to the remaining cooperative societies working in all other sectors. The National Cooperative Database will be launched after completion of data collection under Phase-III.
Government has approved the plan for establishing two lakh new Primary Agricultural Credit Societies  or primary Dairy/ Fishery cooperative societies covering all the Panchayats/ villages in the country in the next five years, with the support of NABARD, NDDB and NFDB.
As per statutory provisions, the Cooperative Societies with objects not confined to one State are governed by Entry 44 of Union List of the Constitution and are centrally administered by Central Registrar of Cooperative Societies  under provisions of Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002. The details of State/UT-wise cooperatives registered under Multi-State Co-operative Societies Act, 2002 during the last three years is placed at Annexure-II.
The Cooperative Societies with objects confined to one State are governed by Entry 32 of State List of the Constitution and are administered by the concerned State Registrar of Cooperative Societies  as per provisions of respective State Cooperative Societies Act. The details of Cooperative Societies registered under respective State Cooperative Societies Act during the last three years are available with the concerned State Registrar.
This was stated by the Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.
Ministry of Development of North-East Region
Mizoram Environment, Forest & Climate Change Minister calls on DoNER Minister Dr Jitendra Singh
The Union Minister of State  Development of North Eastern Region , MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh said that Mizoram Citrus Fruit "Centre of Excellence" , located at Lunglei, is availing Israeli technology and has emerged as a unique of its kind institution in India which, though located in Mizoram, caters to the entire North-Eastern region and indeed, to the entire country. The issue came up during a discussion on various Mizoram State related projects when the Minister for Law & Judicial, Parliamentary Affairs, Transport, Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri T.J. Lalnuntluanga called on the DoNER Minister today.
Dr Jitendra Singh expressed satisfaction that the "Centre of Excellence" for Citrus Fruit, which became functional last year, has started providing planting material and training to farmers with collaboration from Israel and some of the officers of Mizoram have already received their training from Israel. He said that it was an initiative of the Government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi that followed a tripartite collaboration of the Government of Israel, State Government of Mizoram and the Union Government, with the Ministry of DoNER performing the role of facilitator and coordinator. The technical support, planting material and capacity building is being provided by Israel and the Centre specializes in exclusively dealing with the processing of Citrus Fruits, he added.
Shri Lalnuntluanga also submitted to Dr Jitendra Singh a proposal for community based eco-tourism project envisaged to be set up at Tlangsam, Champhai in Sikkim at an estimated cost of Rs. 15 crore. The proposal stated that Mizoram, being part of the Himalayan region, has huge potentials which could be utilized for bringing up such projects and would also benefit the local community.
The Mizoram Minister also handed over to the DoNER Minister a copy of the project proposals submitted by the State Government to the Ministry of DoNER. These include construction of Serlui Bailey Bridge, reinstallation of Artificial Football Turf at Aizawl, development of District Hospital at Mamit, Project for control and mitigation of landslides in the State, construction and restoration of minor irrigation projects, etc.
Cabinet
Cabinet approves Special Window for funding of stalled Affordable and Middle-Income housing projects
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today approved the establishment of a 'Special Window' fund to provide priority debt financing for the completion of stalled housing projects that are in the Affordable and Middle-Income Housing sector.
For the purposes of the fund, the government shall act as the Sponsor and the total commitment to be infused by the Government would be upto INR 10,000 crore.
The fund will be set up as a Category-11 AIF  debt fund registered with SEBI and would be professionally run.
For the first AIF under the Special Window, it is proposed that SBICAP Ventures Limited shall be engaged to be the Investment Manager.
This fund would in turn would provide relief to developers that require funding to complete a set of unfinished projects and consequently ensure delivery of homes to the home-buyers.
Since the real estate industry is intrinsically linked with several other industries, growth in this sector will have a positive effect in releasing stress in other major sectors of the Indian economy as well.
Background
The Hon'ble Finance Minister on September 14, 2019 had announced that a special window for affordable and middle-income housing will be created. This special window will provide last mile funding for housing projects which are stressed.
Subsequently, Inter-ministerial consultations and several stakeholder consultations were held with the housing industry including Housing Finance Companies, Banks, NBFCs, Investors, and Real Estate Developers. Problems being faced by home buyers, developers, lenders, and investors were ascertained that could be addressed through the Special Window.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Tea Board cracks down on substandard imports
The tea buyers directed not to blend imported tea with teas of Darjeeling/Kangra/Assam /Nilgiri 
All importers directed to ensure that origin of imported tea is mentioned in all their sale invoices and not to pass off imported tea as teas of Indian origin
All distributors of tea directed not to blend cheap and inferior quality imported teas with Indian Origin teas for domestic consumption
Manufacturers of Darjeeling tea directed not to purchase green leaf from the outside GI area
As compared to India’s tea production, tea imports are minimal
Centre has taken a strict step to ensure that sub-standard teas are not imported and distributed in India. A notification in this regard has been issued today. Asper the directions of the Minister of Commerce and Industries, four circulars have been issued by the Tea Board on 11.11.2021 under the Tea Marketing Control Order, 2003, Tea  Control Order, 2005 for protection of Darjeeling GI as detailed below:
- All importers have been directed to ensure that origin of imported tea is mentioned in all their sale invoices and not to pass off imported tea as teas of Indian origin.
- All distributors of tea have been directed not to blend cheap and inferior quality imported teas with Indian Origin teas for domestic consumption.
- Manufacturers of Darjeeling tea have been directed not to purchase green leaf from the outside GI area.
- The tea buyers have been directed not to blend imported tea with teas of Darjeeling/Kangra/Assam /Nilgiri .
In order to ensure compliance of the above directions, Tea Board has started surprise checks on distributors/importers especially of Nepal Tea. Surprise check of 3 units in Siliguri was conducted on 11.11.2021 and samples were drawn for testing.
It may be noted that there have been some reports highlighting surge in import of tea which is adversely affecting the Domestic Indian Tea Industry. This is not true. Percentage of imports to total tea production is normally in the range of 1- 2%, out of which sizeable quantity is meant for re-export and not meant for domestic use. The main purposes of tea imports into India is re-exports upon value addition and for blending purposes. As compared to India’s tea production, tea imports are minimal.
Ministry of Defence
Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, AVSM, VSM assumes charge as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff
Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, AVSM, VSM has assumed charge as Vice Chief of the Naval Staff today, on 30 Jan 2019. An alumnus of Sainik School, Amaravathi Nagar and National Defence Academy, Khadakvasla, Pune, he was commissioned into the Executive Branch of the Indian Navy on 01 Jul 1982.
The Admiral has held various challenging Staff and Command assignments during his distinguished naval career spanning more than three decades. After having completed his specialisation in Navigation and Direction at Kochi in 1989, he served as the Navigating Officer of Indian Naval Ships Beas, Nilgiri, Ranvir and Vikrant. His other sea tenures include Commanding Officer of INS Kulish and Ranvir, and Executive Officer onboard INS Brahmaputra. Among his shore tenures, the important ones include Staff officer  at Indian Naval Work-up team, Head of Training Team  at Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, Defence Advisor at the High Commission of India in Singapore and the Chief Staff Officer  of the Western Naval Command. On promotion to Flag rank, he has held the important assignments of Flag Officer Sea Training , Chief of Staff  of Southern Naval Command and Flag Officer Maharashtra and Gujarat . In the rank of Vice Admiral he has been the Commandant of the National Defence Academy and the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff.
He is a graduate of Defence Services Staff College, Wellington and has attended the Army Higher Command Course at Mhow as well as the Expeditionary Operations Course at Quantico, Virginia, USA.
He is married to Mrs Geetha Ashok and they have two daughters.
DKS/AC
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Ministry of Defence
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh to felicitate Service Olympians at Army Sports Institute, Pune
Key Highlights:
- Gold medalist Subedar Neeraj Chopra & other service personnel, who represented India at Tokyo Olympics, likely to be present
- Raksha Mantri to interact with budding sportsmen of ASI & troops
- Shri Rajnath Singh to visit Headquarters of Southern Command
- Chief of Army Staff & Southern Army Commander to accompany Raksha Mantri
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh will felicitate the Olympians from the Services at the Army Sports Institute , Pune on August 23, 2021. All the Armed Forces personnel, who represented India in the recently-concluded Tokyo Olympics, including Gold medalist Javelin Thrower Subedar Neeraj Chopra, are likely to be present on the occasion. Shri Rajnath Singh will also interact with the budding sportsmen of ASI and troops during his visit. He will visit the Headquarters of Southern Command. The Raksha Mantri will be accompanied by Chief of the Army Staff General MM Naravane and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Command Lieutenant General JS Nain.
Indian Army has always been the backbone of Indian sports - from Major Dhyan Chand to Subedar Neeraj Chopra who etched their names in golden letters in the history of Indian sports. The Indian Army’s ‘Mission Olympics’ programme was launched in 2001 as a Key Responsibility Area to raise the standard of sports with the intent to win medals in international events, including Olympics.
ASI, Pune is a unique and world class sports institute of Indian Army and has produced 34 Olympians, 22 Commonwealth Games medalists, 21 Asian Games medalists, six Youth Games medalists and 13 Arjuna Awardees. Besides the dedication of these sportspersons, their success is attributed to the hard work of the support staff at ASI.
ASI, Pune has evolved as a premier sports training institute to prepare the service sportspersons for international competitions through scientific talent identification, systematic training, world class coaching, sports science support, international exposure and good infrastructure support in synergy with the Armed Forces, National Sports Federation and other sports agencies at national & international levels.
President's Secretariat
ENVOYS OF FIVE NATIONS PRESENT CREDENTIALS TO THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA
The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu accepted credentials from the Ambassadors of Chad, Burundi, Finland, Angola and Ethiopia at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan today . Those who presented their credentials were:
1. H.E. Mrs Dillah Lucienne, Ambassador of the Republic of Chad
2. H.E. Brigadier General Aloys Bizindavyi, Ambassador of the Republic of Burundi
3. H.E. Mr Kimmo Lahdevirta, Ambassador of the Republic of Finland
4. H.E. Mr Clemente Pedro Francisco Camenha, Ambassador of the Republic of Angola
5. H.E. Mr Demeke Atnafu Ambulo, Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia